Ovetenskaplig

Ovetenskaplig is a Swedish adjective meaning not scientific, the opposite of vetenskaplig. In general use it describes claims, methods, or practices that do not meet the standards of scientific inquiry—namely empirical evidence, systematic methodology, falsifiability, and reproducibility. The term is employed to characterize statements that rely on anecdote, tradition, authority, untestable assumptions, or other non-empirical grounds rather than controlled observation or peer-reviewed research. It can modify nouns such as påståenden, metoder, or behandlingar to indicate lack of scientific basis.

In discourse, overtones of criticism are common; "ovetenskaplig" is often paired with phrases like “utan vetenskapligt stöd” or contrasted with “vetenskapligt bevisat” to emphasize the absence of evidence. It is related but not identical to pseudovetenskap: pseudoscience denotes a body of ideas that imitates science, while “ovetenskaplig” simply signals the absence of science regardless of intent.

Etymology: the word is formed from vetenskaplig (scientific) with the negating prefix o-.

Uses: the term is found in academic writing, media coverage, and policy discussions when evaluating claims, therapies, or research methods that have not undergone rigorous testing or independent verification. It is a descriptive term rather than a verdict on truth, though in practice it signals a call for caution and evidence-based assessment.